National Republican., 1887-12-26
Daniel Manning.

Inc NATIONAL REPUBLICAN opposed tue
Ioliiical views of Daniel Manning, but It
recognizes the fact that he was an American
Of great ability, Of sterling integrity, of
earnest convictions, aud having that force
Of character which dominates men, and
makes its possessors leaders and molders
Of public opiuion.
a poor boy, Daniel Manning commenced
the battle of life ia 1912 when but II years
old, when he began to learn type setting in
It Newspaper Office Twenty-Five years
atter, In 1873 he was the principal owner
aud EDITOR OF that paper and recognized au-
tholity in the Democratic councils In his
state.
In the same year Mr. Manning's ability
as linancier was recognized and he became
director, afterwards vice president, and
then president Of one of the principal banks
in the city of Albany.
When Samuel j. Tilden became governor
of New York and sought the Democratic
nomination for the presidency, Mr.. Manning
was one OF his chief executors and advisers,
and, like another Saul, sat at the feet of
this Gamaliel to learn political wisdom.
- But Mr.. Manning had broader views than
his Gamaliel, though, unfortunately, never
converted, as Saul was, to the right.
a power in politlcs-a born organizer,
Daniel Manning made Grover Cleveland
President Of the United States, and then
sacrificed his life in the endeayor to make
his administration a success.
Every one remembers how Secretary
Naming was stricken down whilst dis
charging his duties In the Treasury Depart.
ment. In the few months he was In office
Secretary Manning mastered the details OF
the business of his department, but the
effort was too great even for his splendid
physical development.
When the blow came, and he had par
TALLY recovered from its effects, on the 20th
Of May, 1854, he rendered his resignation
letter from which We extrac. the follow
ing:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 20, lsS6.-MY DEAR
SIR; / have decided to place In your hands my
resignation of the office which you did me the
honor to ask Inc TO accept fifteen months ago.
Ny reasons for this decision are bJth public
and IeHonal.
Stree the partial recovery of my health has
permitted me to reflect upon the demands o.
the public service, TO which had given, per.
hsrs loo freely, all my strength, and upon the
conditions of resuming my labors at yourside,
! have not Tor a nom mt questioned what
must he MY present duty.
he foil recovery OF my health is pronounced
10 he an flair of weeks, and longer p,riOi
Of rest, especially during the ho. months is
prescribed, or at least advised, as q prulclt
regimen thereafter.
'0npliance with this advice would not be
Practicable were TO resume now the general
C'tcion of the Treasury Department, even II
LiH,iug somtthing OF the energy which 1t
seemed nccdfll to expend IN the first year OF
my work. Supervision at distance would be
lnurc a hindTaucs than a help TO the acting
StiuETy.
Hut Il Is not beiitllng that department of
the government so dniCult and so important
should he administered by convalescent
sluGIous OF pauying its daily exactions, nor
hat the watchiul control OF Its enormous in-
iCCrce, or the direction Of Its fiscal policies,
even under your wise lead, should be at.
tempted by any one concerned about husband.
ing his strength. Permit me, there
ore, without hesitation to accept my tenn
lCraTy disability as a summons to stand aside
and make way for one Immediately capable of
jn.iillirg every requirement OF the public ser.
vice. Very respectfully yours,
DANIEL MANNING.
This letter is the strongest possible evil
dence that Secretary Manning recognized
his situation and the danger which threat
eped him, but in his devotion to what he
believed the interests Of his country and
party, the Secretary permitted himself to
be overborne on the receipt OF letter from
President Cleveland, which closed as fol-
lows:
You have placed your resignation in my
hands. My responsibility here begins; and
know that the responsibility will be met, and
the wishes of the people OF the land fully
answered, when ask you to postpone for q
whileAny insistance upon the acceptance OF
your resignation, and that your final couclu
sion thereon may be delayed until the Of
ieCts OF continued rest and freedom from oil
Cial care upon your condition may be better
tested, !, therefore, earnestly request yol to
accept a leave Of absence uuLii the lsl day o
october next, when, II you desire It, the q ics-
ti0n ioi your resignation may be resumed
With, perhaps, better means of Judging all the
facts and probabilities when should be con-
Eidered in It's determination.
Hoping that you will consent to this snygeS.
tion, and trusting that your encouraging prog.
I6ss toward restoration to health may con-
tinue, am, faithfully your friend,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Reluctantly Secretary Manning returned
TO duty, and finally, on Feb II, 1887, re-
signed his office, using this Ian guage 10 the
letter rendering his resignation
When you requested me last Ju1e to delay
insisting upon the acceptance Of my rc'gua-
tlon, as again in our conference last October,
you hOuorcd me with such terms of personal
COnsit Grafton, and expressed so grave de.
cision IN respect to the requirements OF the
public service, that II was as impossible tD
question my duty as to forget your kindness.
have not spared myself in the endeavor
10 comply With your wish and to con.
tribute TO the support Of the policies which
have illustrated your administration.
therefore submit TO your considerate
Judgment that Ia asking release by the ith of
March, or as soon as you may select my sue.
cettor, fulfil a duty to my family that may
now be permitted to outweigh the duty OF &C
cCpting longer that assignment OF public ser.
vice which, two years ago, you did me the
honor to make.
1t is evident from these extracts that
Etcrttsry Naming well knew the risks he
ghs taking, deliberately took the chances